Chennai, June 2 (UNI) As filing of nominations for the June 19 biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha

to fill six vacancies from the Tamil Nadu Assembly began on Monday, a contest is not on the cards

and all the six candidates--four from ruling DMK-Led Front and two from the Opposition AIADMK-led

alliance--are likely to be elected unopposed.

Of the six incumbent MPs, five are from the DMK, (including one held by its ally MDMK) and the

AIADMK's former ally, the PMK held one seat.

The term of six MPs from Tamil Nadu--Dr Anbumani Ramadoss (PMK), M Shanmugam,

N Chandrasegharan, M Mohammed Abdulla, P Wilson (all DMK) and Vaiko (MDMK)--will

expire on July 24.

The filing of nominations for the elections to the Upper House of Parliament began today with the

issuance of the notification.

The last date for filing of nominations was June 9 and the scrutiny would take place the next day.

The last date for withdrawal of nominations is June 12.

The elections, if necessary would be held on June 19 and the counting would take place the same

day.

Going by their strengths in the State Legislative Assembly, the DMK could win four seats and the AIADMK--two.

The DMK had already announced its candidates for the Rajya Sabha polls by allotting one seat to

its ally, actor-politician and Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) Founder Kamal Haasan who is all set to

enter Parliament for the first time while deciding to contest the other three seats.

Apart from re-nominating senior Counsel P Wilson for a second successive term, Chief Minister

and DMK President M K Stalin announced Party Salem district secretary S. R. Sivalingam, party

functionary and noted Tamil writer and poet Ms Salma as its other candidates.

Mr Stalin said Kamal's party was allotted one RS seat as per the poll pact agreed upon during

the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Soon after the announcement, the MNM Executive Committee met and adopted a resolution

announcing Kamal as the party's candidate for the seat and the actor-politician is all set to

enter the Parliament for the first time.

This meant that MDMK Founder Vaiko, whose term ends on July 24 along with five others,

was not given a seat this time.

The DMK, which could win easily four seats in the 234-member Assembly, will contest three

seats, its ally MNM (one) and Opposition AIADMK-Two.

The AIADMK decided to contest both the seats and announced it candidates nominating

former Legislators Party Legal Wing Secretary I.S. Inbadurai and Chengalpattu East District

Presidum Chairman M. Dhanapal as its candidates for the two Rajya Sabha seats.

The Opposition AIADMK, with 66 members (including four from the rebel camp of ousted

leader O Panneerselvam), could easily win the two seats, with the support of its ally, the BJP,

which has four MLAs.

A candidate required support of 34 Legislators to win the RS polls.

Going by its strength, the DMK could comfortably win four seats--three on its own and another

one with the support of its allies.

DMK’s strength in the assembly is 133, its allies, Congress has 17 MLAs, Viduthalai

Chiruthaigal Katchi of Thol Thirumavalavan (4), CPI and CPI(M) two each, besides

other partners, including MDMK,more than what is required.

As the AIADMK's decision to contest both the seats left it ally, the DMDK of late actor-

politician Vijayakanth frettered, Mr Palaniswami, in a bid to retain its ally in the fold

immediately announced that the DMDK would be given a Rajya Seat in 2026.

In another statement, he said the DMDK will continue to remain in the AIADMK-led

alliance and it would get a RS seat to it in 2026.

The DMDK had been stating that the AIADMK as part of the 2024 Lok

Sabha poll pact has agreed to allot one RS seat in 2025, a point which

was denid by Mr Palaniswami, who had said no such commitment was

given to it.

DMDK General Secretary Ms Premalatha Vijayakanth, who had been reiterating

that the AIADMK had indeed given a conmitment, said it was the duty of the

alliance leader to honour its commitment, while being non-committal on continuing

in the alliance and announced that the DMDK's poll strategy and alliance will be

announced at the party's conference in Cuddalore district in January 2026.

However, with Mr Palaniswami clearing the air and promised a RS seat neat

year, the DMDK was expected to stay in the alliance, which also has the BJP

as a key partner.

UNI GV 1735